The Emergence of Don Barclay

The biggest surprise of the preseason might have been that Don Barclay moved ahead of Marshall Newhouse for the starting right tackle job. Newhouse allowed a sack during the preseason, sometimes that's all it takes, but the Packers didn't seem sold on Barclay as they kept moving him around the line, trying him at different positions in training camp.

@Jake_NFL Dunlap was good. Allowed a cuple 1Ds in coverage tho. Lost OC on a run and was bullied by RT on one play. P and H came unblocked
— John Breitenbach (@PFF_John) September 23, 2013

Bengals LB Carlos Dunlap is a rising star, but he didn't have a lot of success against Barclay who now is ranked among the Top 10 pass blocking tackles according to Pro Football Focus. That's a far cry from where he was when he became an emergency starter last season. Ironically, he was a much better run blocker last season, while this season it seems he's better as a pass blocker. However, a couple of whiffed blocks might not be the whole story for a line that's now blocked for a 100 yard rusher in consecutive weeks. He's been an excellent find as an undrafted free agent that almost no one thought could play tackle in the NFL.